Push to reduce coastal flooding in Wales announced

Construction work is due to start on a number of important schemes to fight coastal erosion and flooding as part of a £150 million programme of investment over three years, Welsh environment minister Lesley Griffiths announced this week.

She told Assembly Members (AMs) the programme would reduce risk to over 18,000 properties. Projects will repair, replace and create new coastal defence systems. Coastal schemes due to start this coming year include:

strengthening existing defences at East Rhyl;

sea wall strengthening and maintenance at Aberavon; and

construction of setback defences at Y Felinheli.

In addition, over the next 12 months more than £50 million will be invested in flood and coastal erosion risk management initiatives across the country.

This includes a capital programme of £27 million for new schemes, maintenance of existing assets and the development of future schemes; as well as a revenue programme of nearly £25 million. This funding will support the completion of schemes at Beaumaris, Llanfair Talhaiarn and Talgarth and kick-start construction works at Llansannan, Llanmaes, Newport and Welshpool.

On completion of schemes within this year’s programme, over 1,200 properties across Wales – including over 850 homes – will benefit, Griffiths claimed.

The minister also confirmed funding of more than £2.8 million for local authorities and Natural Resources Wales to develop future schemes to improve protection and resilience. Additionally, there will be support for schemes incorporating natural flood management at Betws-y-Coed and Abergele in Conwy and at Cwmaman in Rhondda Cynon.

“I am encouraged to see a number of schemes not just looking at the issues in one location but taking a whole-catchment approach, tackling risk across a wider area. This is something I want to promote, and I will be setting out our thinking in our new national strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management,” she explained.

In an oral statement to Senedd the minister highlighted that a new statutory Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee for Wales had been established.